American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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What is the most common operation performed in individuals over 65 years of age?

Cardiac bypass surgery
Biliary tract surgery
Hip replacement surgery
Appendectomy

The correct answer is: Biliary tract surgery

The most common operation performed in individuals over 65 years of age is biliary tract surgery. This type of surgery is often necessitated by conditions such as cholecystitis or gallstone disease, both of which are more prevalent in older populations. As people age, they are more likely to develop gallstones due to various factors, including changes in metabolism and dietary habits, leading to increased incidences of biliary tract complications. While cardiac bypass surgery is significant in the elderly population and hip replacement surgery is a common procedure that addresses hip osteoarthritis and fractures, biliary tract surgery specifically has a higher frequency in this age group. Appendectomy, while a common procedure, tends to be less frequent in the elderly compared to other surgical interventions, especially those related to the biliary system. Thus, biliary tract surgery stands out as the procedure with the highest occurrence among older adults.